And, while it may seem scarcely believable that those days are now some 60 years in the rear-view mirror, the sights, sounds, and feel of the early 1960s will still be a familiar one to many a reader.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a retro archive picture collection of all our very vest images of Preston life - encompassing everything from workers on the docks to schools and pubs - for you to peruse.
33. Preston Docks c.1962 The two banana boats, MV Geestland and MV Geeststar at the main basin. Image courtesy of S. Warren. Comment courtesy of Clydebrae: The "Geeststar" and her sister "Geestland" were designed for Geest's service to the Windward Islands. Commissioned in 1960, they flew the Dutch flag and were regular callers at Preston. In the early 50's the UK Government promoted schemes to encourage peasant farmers to grow bananas in Dominica and on St Lucia, but regular shipping opportunities stifled take up. In 1954 John van Geest took control of the Antilles Group of Companies and in September of that year Antilles Products Ltd changed name to Geest Industries (BWI) Ltd. At the same time negotiations were finalised with the respective banana associations of the four Windward Islands for exclusive rights to ship and market all production. Regular shipments to Preston followed initially using chartered tonnage until the building of these two ships. Production romped ahead - in 1954 the Windwards exported 6686 tonnes and by 1961 it passed the 100,000 tonnes mark. The Geest brand became a familiar site in competition with Fyffes. Throughout the 50's and much of the 60's Preston was the major Northern hub for Geest, with Barry in South Wales the alternative port. Traffic was very much one way, dominated by bananas and other tropical fruits, the latter still deemed exotic and in small quantities. Cargo was taken outwards but volumes were low, the ships sailing moreoless in ballast condition. Outward cargoes included bales of jute fillis, banana wrappings, tractor parts, chicken feed and domestic items including, on occasions, beer. As an illustration the "Geeststar" sailed from Preston, on her 14th voyage, on 2nd August 1961 and arrived back on the 28th - she then set off again on the 30th. Typically she would discharge around 900 tonnes of bananas working overtime 0600/0800hrs and 1800/2200hrs as and when necessary to achieve quick turnrounds. In the early
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34. Many thanks to LP reader Ian Goody for todayâs Looking Back, which shows Ian, centre, with friends Michael (Mick) Cuerden, left, and David (Dave) Turner, right at the Angel pub in Lune Street, Preston, in late 1962. He writes: âWe would meet up in the pub a couple of times a month, with other friends as well, but the thing we all had in common was that we had served the same bricklaying apprenticeship in the 1950s.â See letter
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35. Snow Hill, Preston 1962 Located close to Starchouse Square. Showing some of the cellars in which hand loom weaving was carried on in the early 1800's
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36. Preston Railway Station September 8th 1962 Rebuilt 'Royal Scot' 7P 4-6-0 No. 46105 Cameron Highlander Photo: Ben Brooksbank.
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